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Lincoln - The Nebraska wrestling team celebrated its 2006-07 season and honored several members of this year’s squad at a banquet held Saturday night at the Cornhusker Hotel in downtown Lincoln.
Drawing top honors as Nebraska’s Outstanding Wrestler for the 2006-07 season was sophomore 125-pound wrestler Paul Donahoe, who became the program’s ninth national champion with his 3-1 overtime win over Sam Hazewinkel of Oklahoma in the finals of the NCAA Championships. Donahoe finished the season with a 35-5 record, becoming the first NU wrestler since Jason Powell in the 2002-03 season to win at least 30 matches.
Redshirt freshman Craig Brester was the lone Husker to be honored twice, as the freshman 197-pounder was named both the Husker Power Lifter of the Year and the Most Improved Wrestler on this year’s team. In his first year in the varsity lineup, Brester finished 19-7 with a 14-2 dual mark, while finishing just one win shy of All-America status at the NCAA Championships.
Senior 141-pound wrestler Dominick Moyer captured the Most Dedicated award. A three-year NCAA qualifier, Moyer finished 28-9 on the season and earned his third career trip to nationals.
Matt Vacanti earned Redshirt-of-the-Year honors. In his first year with the Nebraska program, Vacanti finished 17-2 at 125 pounds. Vacanti joins an illustrious list that includes recent All-Americans Justin Ruiz, Jason Powell, Jacob Klein, B.J. Padden and Paul Donahoe.
Austin Baier was named the Lincoln Optimist Award winner for his work on the mat and in the classroom. Jordan Burroughs and Stephen Dwyer, starters as true freshmen at 149 and 165 pounds, respectively, were awarded the Spirit of Excellence Award. Chris Oliver (157), Tom Rice (HWT) and Cameron Browne (HWT) shared the Granite Award.
The Nebraska wrestling team finished the season with a 10-7-1 dual record and a 16th-place finish at the NCAA Championships. The Huskers will return eight starters from this year’s squad and will have nine wrestlers on the roster with NCAA Championships experience in 2007-08.
2007 Nebraska Wrestling Awards
Lincoln Optimist-Austin Baier
Husker Power-Craig Brester
Spirit of Excellence-Jordan Burroughs and Stephen Dwyer
Most Improved-Craig Brester
Granite-Chris Oliver, Tom Rice and Cameron Browne
Redshirt of the Year-Matt Vacanti
Most Dedicated-Dominick Moyer
Outstanding Wrestler-Paul Donahoe